Trade Q&A: Expect Essendon to play hardball with Brisbane Lions over the Joe Daniher deal
Everyone wants out of the Bombers, But Essendon has to get something back, right? Adrian Dodoro has always played hard ball at the trade table, but he faces his mightiest challenge. Got a trade question for Ralphy? LIVE FROM 12.30PM
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Essendon could force Brisbane to the trade table by matching its $3 million five-year contract offer to restricted free agent Joe Daniher.
The Bombers said Daniher cited a change in lifestyle for his decision to head north after the big forward embraced Queensland’s climate while living in a hub this year.
The Herald Sun revealed last month he had reached out to Lions players asking about the club’s medical program after Brisbane successfully reignited the careers of busted pair Grant Birchall (Hawthorn) and Lincoln McCarthy (Geelong).
Daniher has been camping in central Queensland, but on Wednesday he officially walked out on Essendon for the second time in 12 months.
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“We put forward a contract offer to Joe, but he has expressed his strong desire to live away from Melbourne,” list boss Adrian Dodoro said on Wednesday.
Essendon was offered pick No. 9 (2019 draft) and No. 3 (2020) by Sydney last year, although it was unaware this year’s pick would be so high at the time.
The Bombers refused to trade Daniher, wanting to spend another 12 months trying to talk their father-son gun into re-signing.
HIRD’S GAMBLE
Club legend James Hird endorsed the decision to hold Daniher to his 2020 contract because of his glistening potential.
It is understood Essendon offered the brilliant goalkicker a four-year contract, which he rejected.
The Lions’ offer is understood to be heavily incentivised, with Daniher’s earning capacity to skyrocket if he can get his troublesome body right and play most matches.
Daniher has managed just 15 games since his 2017 All-Australian and best-and-fairest-winning 65-goal season.
The base salary of Brisbane’s offer is expected to be around $650,000.
The AFL confirmed to the Herald Sun that it would only take into account the guaranteed money, as well as Daniher’s age, when determining Essendon’s compensation pick.
The structure of Brisbane’s offer could drop the compensation from a first-round selection (No. 7) to an end-of-first-round selection (No. 20).
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Essendon has the right to match Brisbane’s offer — because Daniher is a restricted free agent — and force Brisbane to strike a trade, which it will certainly do if it suspects it will only receive No. 20.
In 2015 Adelaide and Geelong maturely negotiated a trade for restricted free agent Patrick Dangerfield because the Crows were only slated to receive No. 13 as compensation.
The Lions currently hold picks No. 18 and 19.
LIONS’ LOGICAL PLAY
The most logical solution would be for Brisbane to ensure its contract offer was fat enough to deliver Essendon pick No. 7 as free agency compensation and avoid having to give anything up in a trade.
Port Adelaide signed Lion Tom Rockliff on a base salary of $600,000 per season in 2017, but Brisbane only received an end-of-first-round compensation pick.
But Rockliff was 27 at the time, whereas Daniher is a year younger at 26.
AFL integrity officer David Grossman must sign off on the contract, as he does for all deals.
It has been after another season from hell for the Bombers.
New coach Ben Rutten suddenly must replace halfback weapons Adam Saad (Carlton-bound) and Conor McKenna (retired), spearhead Daniher (Brisbane-bound) and, more than likely, creative goalkicker Orazio Fantasia (Adelaide or Port Adelaide-bound) in his starting 18 for Round 1 next season.
They are all aged 24-26 and should be hitting the peak of their powers.
Saad and McKenna’s defensive dash was the Dons’ signature in 2018-19 while Fantasia and Daniher, when fit, provided a huge chunk of their forward potency.
Zach Merrett, 25, is also far from content.
Dodoro brought in the four A-graders — finding McKenna in Ireland and taking Fantasia with pick 55 — but the club’s environment over the past two years has ultimately driven them away.
The Bombers are likely to want more than Carlton’s top-10 pick for Saad given his All-Australian potential and durability, missing just one game since 2016.
FAREWELL STINKER?
Popular ruckman Tom Bellchambers was not given a farewell game in Round 18, which also did not sit well with the players.
This week’s exits have sounded alarm bells for football boss Dan Richardson and Rutten, although Richardson made no apologies for the demanding culture.
After Round 18, Rutten was asked whether players walking out before his first official game in charge would shake his faith in the club’s direction.
“No. So many factors go into decisions like that for the players,” Rutten said.
REVEALED: WHY DANIHER IS WALKING OUT ON ESSENDON
Joe Daniher wants to play for Brisbane Lions next year, fed up with Essendon’s inability to get him on the park and, like several Bombers, unconvinced at the path forward at Tullamarine.
The Herald Sun revealed last month that Daniher had started contacting Lions players – both current and former – inquiring about the club’s medical program.
Daniher received rave reviews from the club that has successfully reignited the careers of Lincoln McCarthy and Grant Birchall.
The Bombers said Daniher cited a change in lifestyle for his decision to turn down their contract offer.
“We put forward a contract offer to Joe, but he has expressed his strong desire to live away from Melbourne,” list boss Adrian Dodoro said.
“We understand that free agency is part of our industry and he has a right to explore his options.”
The Herald Sun also revealed last month that another luckless player, injured Cat Nakia Cockatoo, was in Brisbane’s sights.
Daniher, a restricted free agent, is expected to notify the Bombers that he wants to accept Brisbane’s offer imminently.
Daniher tried to leave last year, however Essendon blocked his trade request to the Swans.
The Bombers have the option to match Brisbane’s offer and force the preliminary finalist to strike a trade.
But if the Lions’ contract offer to Daniher is healthy enough, as expected, the Bombers would receive the No. 7 pick as compensation for losing their star free agent.
It means the Bombers could enter the draft with three top-10 picks for the first time in history.
They currently hold No. 6, could receive No. 7 as compensation for Daniher and are likely to request No. 8 from Carlton for Saad.
Daniher’s teammates have been expecting his defection for some time.
The fact Adam Saad and Daniher have decided to walk out on the Bombers before new coach Ben Rutten’s first official game in charge has alarmed the club’s leadership.
Football boss Dan Richardson was crucial to Rutten’s appointment, and players have had two years to look at the club’s direction during the handover with coach John Worsfold.
Other players including Orazio Fantasia are also considering their futures, while there was widespread disappointment that popular ruckman Tom Bellchambers was not given a farewell match in Round 18.
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Rutten said he wouldn’t take it personally if players decided they didn’t want to stay at Tullamarine after getting a look at the path forward.
“So many factors go into decisions like that for the players,” Rutten said.
The Bombers have also missed out on premiership player Jack Graham, who turned down three clubs to re-sign with Richmond.
Rutten promised to tailor the Bombers’ game plan to the strengths of their squad and deliver a “balanced brand” as they look to rebound in 2021.
Originally published as Trade Q&A: Expect Essendon to play hardball with Brisbane Lions over the Joe Daniher deal